For Immediate Release
Washington DC－May 16, 2022
Contact: (202) 547-3686
FORMOSAN ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Outrage at violence targeted at our Taiwanese American community for our identity, condemns hate crime and domestic terrorism of radicalized groups
May 16, 2022 FORMOSAN ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Today, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs calls upon all who value democracy and freedom of political expression to join with us in condemning the Outrageous violence targeted at the Taiwanese American community for our identity and the hate that fuels this act of domestic terrorism by radicalized persons and groups.
The worldwide Taiwanese community is outraged at the attack by the gunman who killed one person and wounded five others at a Taiwanese luncheon in a Laguna Woods church in California on Sunday May 15.
The 100 or so members of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, most of whom are senior citizens, were holding a banquet in the church at the time of the shooting to honor a former pastor visiting from Taiwan.
Police report that a man in his 60s entered the room where the banquet was being held and began shooting. He killed one person and wounded five others ages 66 to 92 before courageous church members disarmed and hogtied him with an electric cord.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as David Chou of Las Vegas, and announced he was motivated by political hatred between himself and the Taiwanese community. “It is believed the suspect was upset about political tensions between China and Taiwan.”
Dr. Minze Chien, President of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) calls upon all people of goodwill across the United States together with those in government and business positions to take a strong stand against this evil:
“FAPA is a Taiwanese American organization that promotes freedom, human rights and democracy for the people of Taiwan. We are shocked and horrified at this horrendous shooting. Our organization and the collective Taiwanese American community join the families of the victims in grief and we pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded survivors.”
“Clearly, the gunman acted out of hate stemming from radicalized political beliefs. He intended to kill and massacre innocent Taiwanese Americans simply based on our identity.”
“We strongly condemn this act of cowardice in the strongest terms possible. We, therefore, urge the authorities to prosecute this heinous crime as a politically motivated hate crime, and label any radicalized and violent groups he was affiliated with as domestic terrorists.”
Dr. Chien adds: “FAPA has worked for 40 years to ensure democracy and freedom of political expression is protected in Taiwan and for the Taiwanese people. We will not let one man’s act of violence destroy that.”
Dr. Chien concludes: “Differences in political views and opinions should never lead to violence – let alone murder!”
台灣人公共事務會呼籲所有崇尚民主與政治表達自由的人們，共同嚴厲譴責日前攻擊台灣人身份認同的槍擊暴力事件，亦同時譴責衍生出此仇恨犯罪行為的國內恐怖主義與激進份子及團體。
五月十五號星期日，一名持槍歹徒闖入 Laguna Woods 的台美人教會，在午餐聚會上行兇，釀成一死五傷的慘劇。
槍擊發生時，教會正好為一名由台灣來訪的前任牧師舉行歡迎餐會。與會成員大約一百多人，絕大多數為退休長者。
警方表示，一位六十多歲的男子進入聚會現場後便開始開槍射擊，當場射殺一人，並槍傷五位66到92歲的與會長者。所幸兇徒隨即被在場民眾制伏並解除武裝，再以延長線將其手腳捆綁、限制行動。
橘郡警長辦公室說明槍手為來自拉斯維加斯的 David Chou（周文偉）。他的犯罪動機是出於對台灣人社群的政治仇恨，以及對中國與台灣之間政治緊張局勢的憤怒與不滿。
台灣人公共事務會會長簡明子表示：
「台灣人公共事務會一向致力於促進台灣人的自由、人權、與民主。我們對這起駭人聽聞的槍擊事件表示震驚。本會及全體台美人社群與受害家屬共同哀悼，亦同時希望傷者能夠早日康復。」
「槍手行兇的動機，明顯基於激進政治理念所引發之仇恨。他意圖屠殺無辜的台美人，僅因為他們具有台灣人的身份認同。」
「我們強力譴責這樣的懦夫行徑，且敦促相關執法單位能以政治仇恨犯罪來起訴此令人髮指的罪行，並將他所屬的任何激進暴力團體皆標記為美國本土的恐怖組織。」
「台灣人公共事務會在過去的40年間，致力確保台灣的民主以及台灣人的政治表達自由皆能受到保障。我們不會讓此惡徒的暴力仇恨行徑摧毀我們長期努力的成果。」
「政治觀點與意見的歧異並不能成為暴力行為的藉口，更何況這是謀殺！」
